Liquid phase separator with valved outlet means

Abstract

A separator for immiscible, emotionless-forming liquids having different specific gravities which comprises a container and a valve arrangement provided in the lower end of the vessel for movement between open and closed conditions whereby through disposition in the container, the heavier liquid may be discharged from the separator, the lighter liquid being retained therein. The valve configuration is such as to greatly facilitate its disassembly in cleaning as well as economic manufacture.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A device for separating immiscible liquids having different specific gravities and different visually determinable characteristics comprising a container having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said container having a relatively large opening in the upper end portion thereof for entry of immiscible liquids to be separated, said container having a relatively small discharge opening in the lower end portion thereof, said lower end portion being of reduced cross section relative to the upper end portion and said lower end portion having a fluid discharge conduit portion extending downwardly from said discharge opening with the interior of said conduit portion communicating with said discharge opening, and valve means for selectively opening and closing to permit liquid flow through said lower end portion and out said discharge opening to prevent such flow respectively, said valve means comprising a closure member constituted by an integral unit of premolded plastic material, said closure member being positioned above said discharge opening and comprising a body portion having a configuration providing for peripherally sealing contiguous relationship between the periphery of said closure body and corresponding interior surface of said container proximate to said discharge opening, said closure body being movable between a lower position providing said sealingly contiguous relationship and an upper position providing for peripherally noncontiguous relationship between the periphery of said closure body and corresponding interior surfaces of said container portion, said sealingly contiguous relationship preventing liquid in said container from flowing through said discharge opening, said peripherally noncontiguous relationship providing for flow of liquid through said discharge opening and downwardly through said fluid discharge conduit, said closure member having an integrally formed extension portion of a resilient nature extending downwardly from said closure body and into the interior of said fluid discharge conduit, and actuator means cooperable with said fluid discharge conduit interconnected with said closure member extension, and normally actuatable from outside said fluid discharge conduit, for selective movement of said closure body between said lower and upper positions, said actuator means comprising a crankshaft constituted of an integral unit of premolded plastic material, said crankshaft having opposite ends journalled respectively in opposite walls of said fluid discharge conduit and extending transversely thereacross, at least one crank arm integral with said shaft, and a crank pin carried by said crank arm, said closure extension being bifurcate in nature and having a spaced pair of legs remote from said closure body and including oppositely disposed surfaces between said legs defining a slot opening downwardly between said legs, said spaced legs straddling said crank pin, said slot having a relieved area proximally of the lowermost extremities of said legs and providing a cross section for accomodating said crank pin for journalling said closure extension on said crank pin, said relieved area being constituted by oppositely disposed arcuate notches in said oppositely disposed surfaces for resiliently engaging said crank pin, whereby selective rotation of said shaft causes said movement of said closure body, and whereby said closure extension may be readily selectively disengaged from said crank pin by lifting said closure member to cause resilient deformation of said legs permitting withdrawal of said crank pin from said slot. 
     
     
       2. A device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said container having a cross section which diminishes from said relatively large opening to said discharge opening to define a sloping interior surface proximate to said discharge opening, said body portion having a tapered peripheral surface adapted to conform sealingly to said sloping interior surface when said closure body is in said lower position, said crank pin being at a lowermost position when said closure member is in said lower position, the throw of said crankshaft causing movement of said closure body to mid upper position, said crankshaft having a portion extending transversely outwardly from said fluid discharge conduit for permitting normal rotation of said crankshaft. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said crankshaft having a portion extending transversely outwardly from said fluid discharge conduit for permitting manual rotation of said crankshaft, said crankshaft being journalled in said fluid discharge conduit at a journal location between said crank pin and said outwardly extending portion, said crankshaft having an enlarged diameter portion at said journal location rotatable in a closely fitted aperture in a wall of said fluid discharge conduit, said enlarged diameter portion having a diameter substantially at least as great as the throw of said crankshaft, thereby to facilitate fitting of said crankshaft within said fluid discharge conduit. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said crank pin extending transversely from said enlarged diameter portion at a point spaced from the crankshaft axis of rotation, said crank pin extending from one interior wall of said fluid discharge conduit toward the opposite wall, whereby said enlarged diameter portion constitutes said crank arm. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said strainer means provided for disposition across said relatively large opening and hinge means mounting said strainer means on said container for swingable movement of said strainer means in a vertical plane between operative disposition across said relatively large opening and inoperative position displaced therefrom.